Lack of light suspended play for Barbora Zahlavova Strycova and Silvia Soler-Espinosa on Tuesday night, but the Czech held her nerve to clinch a 7-5, 7-6(3) success when play resumed the following day. The eighth seed will now take on Julia Cohen on Thursday for a place in the quarter-finals of the XXV Italiacom Open.

Cohen secured an unexpected victory in round one here in Palermo, as she edged past Russia’s Vera Dushevina, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5. As the world No. 140, Cohen will be aware that a lengthy run here could significantly boost her ranking, as well as her chances of receiving a wildcard entry for the US Open.

Zahlavova Strycova will be the favourite to win this match, regardless of her 12-18 match record for 2012. This won’t necessarily be a one-sided contest, but the world No. 71 has been competing at a higher standard throughout the season, and should pull through.

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